President Obama Takes On Letterman

Last night Barack Obama became the first sitting U.S. President to take on the “Late Show With David Letterman” when he made an appearance on the late-night talk show and discussed Afghanistan, the economy, health care, and heart-shaped potatoes. The President made the day of a woman from Missouri named Mary Apple when he asked to take a look at the wrinkled heart-shaped potato she brought to the show. The woman threw the potato up to Letterman and he handed it to Obama who said, “Well, thank you so much for sharing.” While Obama said the potato was the “main reason” he was there, Letterman’s Top Ten list gave several other possible reasons Obama agreed to do the show, including: “Wanted to congratulate Dave on the big Emmy win.” (Letterman lost the Emmy to Jon Stewart for the seventh year in a row).

Personal aside: Letterman films his show in my neighborhood, just two blocks from my apartment, and yesterday afternoon I met up with my husband, who was on his way home from work, and we were lucky enough to catch President Obama leaving the studio after his interview! It was a thrill to see all cops rev their engines in the front of the motorcade and then see the President himself drive past, but the best part of all is that Obama actually looked right at us, like us, personally, and smiled and waved! And I even have a video clip to prove it! Let’s face it: The heart-shaped potato may have been one draw, but I think the President really agreed to do “Letterman” so he could wave “hi” to me!